Central College Athletics

After 18 seasons as a highly successful head coach at Western Connecticut State University, Alicia O’Brien joined the Dutch softball staff as associate head coach in 2006. She also serves as senior associate athletics director, Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Equity in Athletics, athletics department  senior woman administrator and athletics department compliance officer.

At Western Connecticut State O’Brien posted a 423-213-3 (.664) softball record, guiding the Colonials to eight NCAA Division III tournament berths. She piloted Western Connecticut State to the NCAA finals in 2002 and her teams posted 20 or more wins 13 straight seasons, capturing Little East Conference championships three times since 2001. She served as the school’s associate athletics director and senior woman administrator as well.

O’Brien has helped Central compile a 512-207 (.712) mark and 11 NCAA Division III tournament berths over 18 seasons for a combined 935-420-3 (.690) career mark. She received the Easton Victory Club Award for her 900th win at the 2023 NFCA convention.

A Western Connecticut State University graduate and two-sport team captain, O'Brien also earned a master's degree there in counseling. She served on the school's Hall of Fame Committee and was a member of its Wellness Initiative. She served a five-year term as a Title IX consultant with the Danbury, Conn. school system. The long-time director of the Western Connecticut Softball Camp, O'Brien was also an NFCA Division III Regional All-America Committee member.

In 2001 she was inducted into the Connecticut Softball Hall of Fame, the Danbury (Conn.) High School Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008, the Western Connecticut State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013 and the Little East Conference Hall of Fame in 2014.

O’Brien is the wife of Dutch head coach George Wares.